Child porn investigation leads to Cayuga County men

Syracuse, N.Y. - Two Cayuga County men face federal child pornography charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office said today.

Larry R. Lavancher, 60, of Walker Road, Sennett, was arrested Jan. 15 and charged with distributing child pornography in interstate commerce. Lavancher, who was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Syracuse, faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

James Bonsant, 58, of North Seward Avenue, Auburn, was arrested today and arraigned in federal court on a charge of possessing child pornography. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

James Bonsant

Federal authorities say Lavancher engaged in an Internet relationship with people he believed to be a 30-year-old woman and her 13-year-old daughter. He was actually contacting a member of the police department in Baldwin City, Kansas. The Lavancher investigation led to the arrest of Bonsant, authorities said.

In addition, Bonsant faces weapons charges filed by Cayuga County sheriff's investigators. Sheriff David S. Gould said three unregistered handguns were found during a search of Bonsant's home as part of the child pornography investigation. Bonsant was arraigned in City Court on three misdemeanor weapons charges, then turned over to federal authorities.

The arrests were the result of a two-month investigation by the FBI, Cayuga County sheriff's investigators and Baldwin City, Kansas, police.

"The cooperation between the FBI and our CID investigators was outstanding," Gould said.